Clinic to provide heart screenings for athletes

PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center and the Quinn Driscoll Foundation will offer advanced heart screenings for Clark County student athletes at an event next month.

The Young Champions event will be Oct. 8 at PeaceHealth Southwest’s Heart & Vascular Center. Registration is required. To schedule a screening, call 360-514-1707 or register online at http://www.swHeartCheck.org.

Any Clark County middle- or high-school athlete, band member or cheerleader age 13 to 18 is eligible.

Organizers suggest a donation of $25 to help fund future screenings.

The Quinn Driscoll Foundation is named for 13-year-old Quinn Driscoll, a student athlete at Wy’east Middle School, who died in 2009 after suffering cardiac arrest while running during gym class.

Driscoll had undiagnosed hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a serious heart condition that is the leading cause of sudden cardiac death among young athletes.

Young Champions heart screenings can detect HCM using an echocardiogram, or ultrasound of the heart, and comprehensive electrocardiogram. The screening also includes a review of the child’s personal and family health history and blood pressure check.

The screening does not take the place of a pre-performance exam required for students participating in a school sport.